[milwaukee-electric] Re: Milwaukee slums during the 1940s and afterward

[Don L. Leistikow]

Gary S and list:   If not for the National Avenue Cornfield Meet in
September of 1950, there may have been a chance for Speedrail to
survive.                                 

Two things come to mind.... ridership was strong in rush-hour service.
Aside from the abnormal capacity of the 'Duplex' trains, some trips left
the 'Building' with standing room only, loads.  Waukesha Limited duplex
trains left first, followed by a WJ duplex and then, on its heels, an HC
local with seated capacity, following.         

On the other hand, service throughout the day and evening, was too
frequent for the handful of passengers, mostly shoppers, to break even.
There was just not enough patronage to substaintialte the frequent
service.  Hourly headways would have been sufficient.                                 

After the accident, ridership on the HC line, was literally cut in half.
Ridership on the Waukesha line, remained strong, most likely due to the
fact that it was all double tracked.  A great feeling of safety, in that
thought.                                                    

As for the line remaining in place with a Freeway alongside..... really
questionable. The Planners wanted the prow between downtown and 28th
street, for their construction purposes.  Certainly, it was cheaper to
build on that prow, than to condemn other real-estate in the Valley.    

Politics demanded the RTL be retired.       

Don L.